Protein C, Protein S or antithrombin deficiency
Symptoms of thrombophilia
Thrombophilia is often mild and many people don't experience any health problems. Symptoms will only occur if the disorder causes a blood clot.
People with thrombophilia are particularly at risk of developing a DVT.
Warning signs of a DVTinclude:
- pain, swelling and tenderness in one of your legs (usually your calf)
- a heavy ache in the affected area
- warm skin in the area of the clot
- redness of your skin, particularly at the back of your leg below the knee
DVT usually, although not always, affects one leg. The pain may be worse when you bend your foot up towards your knee.
Part of the blood clot can sometimes break away and travel through the bloodstream. This is known as an embolism.
Embolisms can be dangerous if they become lodged in the lungs (pulmonary embolism). This is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition because it can prevent blood from reaching your lungs.
The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism are:
- chest or upper back pain
- shortness of breath
- coughing usually dry but you may cough up blood or mucus containing blood
- feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- fainting
See your GP immediately if you experience any combination of the above symptoms. Alternatively, you can call NHS 111 or contact your local out-of-hours service for advice. Dial 999 to request an ambulance if your symptoms are severe.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Thrombophilia is where the blood has an increased tendency to form clots.
The blood clotting process
When you cut yourself, the bleeding usually triggers a number of chemical reactions in the blood.The chemical reactions cause a blood clot to form, which sticks to the injured part of the blood vessel
Types ofthrombophilia
There are many different types of thrombophilia. Some of the main types are outlined below.Factor V LeidenFactor V Leiden is a type of thrombophilia caused by a specific gene mutation.It's the most co
Symptoms of thrombophilia
Thrombophilia is often mild and many people don't experience any health problems. Symptoms will only occur if the disorder causes a blood clot.People with thrombophilia are particularly at risk of dev
Diagnosing thrombophilia
Thrombophilia testing isn't routinely carried out on everyone who has a blood clot.Testing for inherited thrombophilia in people with venous thrombosis isn't usually needed because the results don't u
Treating thrombophilia
Treatment may not be needed if you have mild thrombophilia. If you develop a blood clot, you'll need treatment for the blood clot and treatment to prevent further clots. You may need to take warfarin
Lifestyle advice
If you have thrombophilia, it's important you're aware of the symptoms of a blood clot (see above), and that you see your GP immediately if you think you have one. You should also take the following p
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